The Australian media acted with considerable restraint during the Sydney Lindt cafe siege. But future terrorists and hostage takers will not need professional journalists to get their demands and agendas out.

Throughout the first decade of this century Australian cinema was suffering an acute case of the grim-and-drearies, but some of the industry’s latest offerings, including Red Dog and The Sapphires, could mark a welcome return to the more upbeat golden age of Strictly Ballroom. They just need an audience.